Niagara County Community Air Screen Results

Five air samples were collected in the Highland Community located in the city of Niagara Falls. All samples were collected for 1-hour with a 6-liter sampling canister and analyzed using a laboratory method which evaluates the presence of 43 toxic air pollutants.

Only 17 toxic air pollutants were detected and all are well below the short-term health-based air concentration values. Therefore, the results would not be considered an immediate public health concern. Additionally, many of the results from the Highland Community sampling are below or within an order of magnitude of the long-term health-based air concentration values and similar to monitoring concentrations found at other monitors in the DEC's ambient air monitoring network. Based on these comparisons, DEC staff concluded that follow-up sampling will not be considered at this time.

In conclusion, this short-term screening assessment did not identify concentrations of toxic air pollutants that would be considered a public health concern. Additionally, the results do not indicate the need for follow-up sampling at this time.